Republican Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis on Monday responded to falling behind in recent polls to former President Donald Trump during his trip to Japan.
Trump has dominated polls in a potential 2024 presidential primary since his indictment by Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg on March 18. The Florida governor has stood neck-and-neck with Trump in several polls conducted about the 2024 presidential election in the aftermath of the 2020 election, in which DeSantis often led the former president.
“Governor, polls show you falling behind Trump,” a reporter said. “Any thoughts on that?”
“I’m not a candidate, so we’ll see if and when that changes,” DeSantis replied.
A slew of recent polls has found that Trump has significantly led DeSantis in a hypothetical Republican primary. A March 14 Morning Consult poll found the former president leading the governor 52%-28%, and a Quinnipiac poll from March 15 found Trump garnering a 46%-32% lead over DeSantis.
Several prominent Florida Republicans have endorsed Trump, including Reps. Byron Donalds and Matt Gaetz. (RELATED: Republican Florida Rep. John Rutherford Endorses Trump Over DeSantis In 2024)
Despite the endorsements for Trump, Republican county chairs and other prominent members of the party have come to favor DeSantis. The chairs overwhelmingly supported DeSantis over Trump in a March 10 Politico poll.
The Florida governor has not announced his intentions to enter the presidential race in 2024, though the public has long speculated his candidacy. The speculations of DeSantis’ run and public popularity has led Trump to personally attack the governor with the nickname, “Ron DeSanctimonious” and credit himself for the governor’s rise to political fame.